Poetry Archives

Ah, dans ces mornes sèjours
Les jamais sont les toujours
                    Paul Verlaine

You would have understood me, had you waited;
   I could have loved you, dear! as well as he:
Had we not been impatient, dear! and fated
      Always to disagree.

What is the use of speech? Silence were fitter:
   Lest we should still be wishing things unsaid.
Though all the words we ever spake were bitter,
      Shall I reproach you dead?

Nay, let this earth, your portion, likewise cover
   All the old anger, setting us apart:
Always, in all, in truth was I your lover;
      Always, I held your heart.

I have met other women who were tender,
   As you were cold, dear! with a grace as rare.
Think you, I turned to them, or made surrender,
      I who had found you fair?

Had we been patient, dear! ah, had you waited,
   I had fought death for you, better than he:
But from the very first, dear! we were fated
      Always to disagree.

Late, late, I come to you, now death discloses
   Love that in life was not to be our part:
On your low lying mound between the roses,
      Sadly I cast my heart.

I would not waken you: nay! this is fitter;
   Death and the darkness give you unto me ;
Here we who loved so, were so cold and bitter,
      Hardly can disagree.